WIAW: Acoustic night and festive hot chocolate

Hi everyone! It’s that time of the week again wear we all get to go to the best party EVER!

This week I’m going to take you back to yesterdays eats, which were pretty tasty:

My day got started off in the right way with a lovely green smoothie, which I based on my Almond, Pear, Pumpkin smoothie, but I left out the pumpkin this time. It still tastes fab with or without the pumpkin and I’, just loving putting almond extract in to my smoothies. I even put some in my oats this morning.

Mid morning snackies came in the form of yummy dates, hazelnuts and a gigantic persimmon that was as big as my head, meaning more deliciousness for me.

Lunch was a lovely snack plate made from red pepper, chopped carrots, squash, and plain and cheese and chives Sakata rice cakes with some hummus for dipping. The rice cakes tasted amazing and made great cutlery as hummus scoopers.

In the afternoon I was feeling hungry so made myself a bowl of chopped figs with soya yoghurt that I dusted with peanut flour and cinnamon. Mid way through I couldn’t resist the temptation to add some maple syrup to the mix too.

This really killed the hunger pangs and tided me over during my workout and until dinner. I think figs are such a pretty fruit when they are cut open, such a pretty colour- love them!

I was going to go to my usual body pump class on Tuesdays, but my friend asked me to go to an acoustic night with her which would mean missing my class. Instead, I headed to the gym and did my usual Thursday strength workout, including 15 minutes on the cross trainer and a 5 minute cool down in the bike.

After getting home and freshening up I made a super speedy stir fry for dinner as I have a lot of veggies in the fridge that need using up before I go away this weekend. I mixed savoy cabbage, courgettes, romanesco cauliflower, carrots and half a sweet potato and made a sauce from peanut butter, soya sauce, rice vinegar and sweet chilli sauce. It was all topped off with some Omega Mixed Seeds…yum!

I then headed to the acoustic night with my friend, hosted by the Christian Society at university. I’ve never been to an acoustic night before, so didn’t know what to expect. Although I shouldn’t have worried as it was so much fun with so many talented singers and guitarists and there was even some poets too. The music played ranged from indie to chart hits that everyone would recognise.

It all took place at a coffee bar called Esquires, which was also new to me. There was an awesome selection on their menu and they were promoting a gingerbread hot chocolate. SInce I’m about everything that is festive at the moment I just had to have one.

Boy, this was sooooo gorgeous! I love putting spices in my hot chocolate to switch them up a little and this has to be the most delicious yet. It went perfectly with cosy atmosphere and a little sing-a-long.

Ahhh I am totally loving the giant persimmons at the moment! My fave fruit and in giant form is just the best thing ever <3 Oooh we have an Esquires here in Newcastle and I saw the sign for gingerbread hot chocolate and I am tempted! I love it in there almost as much as Starbucks and they have so many yummy syrups to add..definitely recommend them!

I’ve never properly been to an acoustic night. I accidentally stumbled across one in a tiny little bar in Tunbridge Wells & wish I could have stayed for the duration but we were only in there to get drinks before going to another gig. They’re very calming, though!

My favourite winter drink HAS to be warm apple juice with cinnamon & cloves. & eggnog lattes, from Starbucks! Although this year, I’ve so far resisted the temptation to BATHE in them (like I usually do) & saving my very first one for after my 10k next weekend. It will be worth it!

Yummy looking stir-fry!
I have gone to some acoustic nights, but not much. They are lots of fun, though!
My favorite winter warmer drinks are Soy cocoa, warmed soymilk sweetened with stevia and a dash of pumpkin spice and nutmeg, Good Earth original Tea, and Starbuck’s Vanilla Rooibus tea. Sometimes I’ll have coffee….. for a charge-up, that is. Do you like Starbucks? Here in Washington State (Seattle is where it was started), Starbucks shops are everywhere!
PS: Love your blog!

i love live music, acoustic nights are the best. I havent been out for a concert in ages though! i really should fine a good one around me soon! love your green monster, havent had on in a long time, but its so cold right now that i am craving for something warm in the mornings!